SUCCESSFUL ACQUISITIONS

M&A Insights from David Braun and Other Experts

Latest Articles

You don’t have to “go big or go home” to successfully grow your company through M&A. A small, well-executed acquisition that targets a specific need can sometimes be more powerful than a multi-billion dollar consolidation. Let’s take a look at a recent example from the news. Earlier this month, Conagra announced it would acquire Thanasi […]

“We did an acquisition about 15 years ago. It did not go well…I guess you could say we are still ‘recovering,’ the CEO of a family-owned business recently shared with me during a meeting. She went on to explain there were a number of integration issues and other challenges that cropped up post-closing that the […]

It seems like 2017 will be a strong year for acquisitions. A new report highlights a number of factors that could drive activity this year including the record levels of cash held by private equity firms and a favorable lending environment for borrowers. Potential changes to U.S. tax policy under the new administration could reduce […]

3M, the maker of Post-it, will acquire Scott Safety from Johnson Controls for $2 billion to build up its safety division. This is the second largest acquisition for 3M after its purchase of Capital Safety, a maker of fall protection equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, and self-retracting lifelines, from KKR & Co. for $2.5 billion […]

One of the most effective ways for strategic buyers to grow through acquisitions is to “take frequent small bites of the apple,” or to conduct a series of smaller, strategic acquisitions in order to achieve a growth goal. Even those these deals might not be as “exciting” as mergers between two huge competitors, they can […]

There’s a myth that acquisitions are only executed by huge, publicly-traded, Fortune 500 companies, but that’s simply not the true. In reality, there are many acquisitions conducted by small and middle market firms that are private transactions and are not reported to the media. There are many reasons to consider acquisitions, regardless of the size […]

You do not need an M&A advisor to pursue acquisitions. You might think I’m crazy for saying this, after all, we are M&A advisors, but the truth is you can pursue acquisitions on your own. In fact, for those of you who are so inclined to take the do-it-yourself approach, I lay out a step-by-step […]

Does this sound familiar? You want to grow through acquisitions, but there are no good companies to acquire. While it may seem like there are absolutely zero acquisition prospects, usually that is not the case. Many companies struggle to find acquisition prospects because they are focusing on only on industry partners, suppliers, or competitors they […]

The media industry is going through a wave of consolidation as traditional players try to adjust to changing consumer habits. Demand for traditional media like print newspapers, cable TV, magazines, and landline phones, has decreased as streaming, mobile and digital media becomes more popular. As this trend continues, businesses will continue acquiring to capture consumers, […]

Not finding the right company to acquire is the top challenge for middle market companies seeking to grow through mergers and acquisitions. According to Capstone’s survey of middle market executives, 28% noted lack of suitable companies as the strongest reason for not considering acquisitions as a tool for growth. Finding the right company to acquire […]

Capstone Strategic’s survey of middle market executives shows most see the same (43%) or growing (31%) M&A activity in their industry. 47% are pursuing M&A in order to access new markets. Capstone Strategic, the leading M&A advisory firm for the middle market, surveyed middle market executives from multiple industries on their growth and M&A experience […]

Burgers, coffee and fried chicken will soon be under one roof. Restaurant Brands International Inc., the parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons is acquiring Popeyes for $1.8 billion. The deal is expected to close in April. Restaurant Brands hopes to use its global reach to expand Popeyes restaurants internationally. Currently, Popeyes, which primarily sells […]

The possibilities may be endless, but your resources are not. For many business owners with limited time and money, deciding which ideas to pursue can be a challenge. Here are three ways to prioritize your options for growth: 1. Start with your company vision The best way to make sure you’re moving in the right direction […]

Should your credit union acquire a bank? If you are looking for new ways to grow, acquiring a bank may be an option for your credit union. Capstone is excited to host a webinar attorney Michael Bell, who pioneered this new approach and continues to help credit unions acquire banks. The webinar will cover the strategy […]

Finding a list of companies to acquire is exciting! You start thinking about all the possibilities and how the deal will grow your business exponentially. But before you move forward with any of these candidates, take a step back and make sure you are looking at companies in the right markets. What are the “right […]

We usually think acquirers are big, multinational companies that gobble up their smaller competitors. However, that’s not always the case. Hudson’s Bay, which has a market value of $1.5 billion, is interested in acquiring Macy’s, which has a market value of $9.4 billion. This transaction challenges common perceptions about acquirers and sellers and demonstrates that […]

Sears, which was once a thriving department store, is dying a slow death and the company is grasping for cash in order to stay afloat. Last year, Sears borrowed $200 million from CEO Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund and most recently Sears agreed to sell Craftsman to Stanley Black & Decker. Under the terms of the […]

Many company owners and executives know that M&A could hugely accelerate their growth. But they hold back for several common reasons. Let’s take a look. 1. “There Are No Suitable Companies to Buy” You’re probably right—almost. There are no suitable companies for sale. That does NOT mean there are no great companies to buy. You just have […]

Capstone Vice President Matt Craft presented at the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program orientation in Richmond on January 19. For 14 years, Capstone has helped Virginia companies grow through our participation in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s VALET program. Matt talked about how leaders can identify the best markets for growth their companies […]

Today we are announcing a new logo for M&A U™, Capstone’s executive education resource. You’ll see the new logo on the M&A U™ website and on M&A U™ resources. The new logo reflects our commitment to helping executives like you learn how to grow through strategic mergers and acquisitions. M&A U™ is a central resource […]